How to Rock the Blue Eyeshadow Trend Without Looking Like a Tween

I’ve always been a beauty fiend. Trips to the makeup counter with my mom fueled an early addiction, especially when she let me dig through her free gift with purchase bags and cop the lipsticks and mascaras she didn’t want. Needless to say, I’ve been wearing a full face since age 12 (no lie, kids). And within those 15 years of applying and experimenting with makeup, both triumphs were had and mistakes were made. I had a ton of phases, from ridiculous glitter eyebrows to black lipstick (both of which I still rock on occasion). But there was no phase I went through longer or harder than the ice blue eyeliner phase. It was easy, fun and had this retro 70s vibe I dug – my mom was wearing it in her senior picture! But eventually the pencils wore down and I grew up a little, switching out my everyday blue for a more neutral palette. But with the recent runway beauty trends, I’ve been stocking up on my old favorite.

Blue eyeshadow was all over the fall 2013 runways, and now we’re seeing it again for spring 2014. And as this season’s shows wind down, it’s plain to see this bold beauty trend is here to stay, for a little while at least. But mastering this trend can be tricky, as a misstep could have you looking like a hooker. Or worse, a tween. But if you follow a few simple tips, you’ll come out looking like a beauty queen rather than a Todders & Tiaras reject.

Keep it light: If this is your first time at the blue shadow rodeo, then it’s best to keep things light. Stick to a pastel shade that won’t overpower your face or make you feel self-conscious about your new look. BareMinerals Eyecolor in Peacock Blue has a slight shimmer, so a little will go a long way. Finish the look with black eyeliner and mascara to make your eyes pop.

Line up: The most foolproof (and my personal favorite) way to rock the icy eye trend is to use neutral shadow on your lid and line either your top or bottom lash line in blue. Go bold on top with a thick cat eye or keep it office-appropriate with a thin line along your bottom lashes. François Nars used both his Eye Liner Pencil in Kaliste and Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Blue Dahlia (launching for holiday) on models at the Marc Jacobs SS14 show.

Keep lips neutral: No matter which blue eyeshadow or liner look you’re rocking, one thing should always remain the same: a neutral lip. There is nothing more offensive than blue eyeshadow matched with a bright red or pink lip. As much as some of us may like to be, we’re not Barbies. Look for something warm and light like Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Colour in Bare Lips. Or just throw on your favorite colorless balm and go.

Shine on: Never underestimate the elegance of a navy eye for evening (weddings, da club, you know). But using a hue that dark can be scary – raccoon eyes are always possible, even if you’re a seasoned user. But there is a way to up the glam factor and tone down the smokiness. Glitter, always a girl’s best friend, is to the rescue again. Use a cream-based shadow so you have more control, plus the glitter will stick right to the pigment. A gilded shimmer is what we’re obsessed with for fall, like MAC Glitter in Antique Gold.

Go bold or go home: Ultimately, you should have fun with the blue eyeshadow trend. Don’t be afraid to use rich pigments (like Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Intense Blue), big cat eyes and shimmer of Studio 54-like proportions. Just remember, practice makes perfect!